Pierre Bourdon

Pierre Bourdon was born in Paris in 1946. Initially studying political science, he eventually decided to follow his passion for perfumery. In 1971, Bourdon met the legendary perfumer Edmond Roudnitska in the south of France. This fateful encounter inspired him to train as a perfumer for five years at Roure in Grasse, where he studied under Roudnitska and Jean Carles.

After his training, Pierre Bourdon joined Roure Paris, where he worked on perfumed personal hygiene products such as creams, deodorants and shampoos. He then spent a year in the United States before creating Yves Saint Laurent's hit fragrance Kouros in 1981. In 1982, Bourdon co-founded Takasago Europe, where he worked as head perfumer for nine years. At Takasago, he created Davidoff Cool Water, a groundbreaking fragrance that revolutionized perfume trends in the 1980s.

A decade later, Bourdon became creative director at Quest, where he worked for two years before being appointed CEO of the French branch of Fragrance Resources in Paris. Under his leadership, the company expanded its activity in luxury fragrances and in 1995 Bourdon composed Dolce Vita for Parfums Christian Dior.

Pierre Bourdon has created some of the most iconic and beloved fragrances during his illustrious career, including YSL Kouros, Davidoff Cool Water, Serge Lutens Feminite du Bois, Creed Green Irish Tweed and Montblanc Individuel. He has recently composed perfumes for Frédéric Malle's Éditions de Parfums and French niche house MDCI.

As Edmond Roudnitska’s only student, Pierre Bourdon was deeply influenced by the philosophy that perfumes should be created as works of art. He has consistently demonstrated an exceptional talent for combining artistry and innovation, resulting in some of the most celebrated and generation-defining fragrances in modern perfumery.

Bourdon's creative process is characterised by his ability to capture the essence of the brands he works with and masterfully translate their values ​​and vision into timeless, evocative fragrances. His work with Frédéric Malle led to the creation of the exquisite Iris Poudre, the first fragrance for Editions de Parfums.

Pierre Bourdon's dedication to the art of perfumery has secured his place as one of the most influential and respected perfumers of all time. His impact on the industry is evident in the fragrances he has created and in the generations of perfumers he has inspired with his unparalleled creativity and skill.

Company: Pierre Bourdon

Also worked with: Takasago, Quest, Fragrance Resources

Education: Roure Bertrand Dupont

Web: pierrebourdon.com